Welcome! We're glad you found us 
(613) 546-3263 
Since the Lenten sermon series is tied into children’s games, we thought it might be nice to have some fun activities after church during coffee hour. You are invited to join Reverend Elizabeth and Linda Steinberg for a quick and simple fun food activity, decorating cookies, cupcakes, or chocolate, with a discussion on the side.
It will be casual, fun, and tasty.
No registration required! Sessions will be March 29 & April 5. All ages are welcome.
Pictures are from March 15.
In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, how can we find greater personal purpose? How can we cultivate meaningful connections and communities?
Rev. Dr. John Pentland is an author, speaker and minister who deeply values curiosity and connection. He has been in ministry at Hillhurst United Church for over 20 years. He is known for connecting faith and culture, as well as his commitment to “good public theology.” He completed a doctor of ministry at Chicago Theological Seminary in 2004. His dissertation, entitled “Speaking Faith in Public Space,” tackled the question of how to talk about faith outside of church.
He writes as a columnist with the Calgary Herald, regularly contributes letters and opinion essays to The Globe and Mail, and in 2015 published a book about the journey of his thriving community of faith.
Check out these articles about John’s career and congregation:
https://broadview.org/john-pentland-united-church-moderator/
https://broadview.org/calgary-church-nearly-closed-now-its-flourishing/
Read more about John’s book on congregational renewal, Fishing Tips: How Curiosity Transformed a Community of Faith:
https://ucrdstore.ca/products/fishing-tips-how-curiosity-transformed-a-community-of-faith?srsltid=AfmBOooONsiWLhCV1M7NKyRUJu3_vuO04KrV1B0-0y7E4kpya8Qwm3rX
Registration link: Register for the Workshop
Please remember this program in your givings.
The need for grocery cards is ongoing and the program urgently needs your donations. It’s tough out there, especially this winter!
If you or someone you know is in need of Pastoral Care support, please contact a member of the Pastoral Care Team: (Rev. Elizabeth Guillaume-Koene, Marjorie Mason, Ruth Tracy, Mary Davis Little, Heather Faris, Linda Steinberg).
If you are moving, please notify the office by email:
or by phone 613-546-3263 ext. 221.
Wilding comes with lots of experience and highly recommended by Sam MacLeod, General Manager at the Spire, where Wilding also works. Their passion is Improv – both performing, and teaching! They have also worked in caretaking at the Vancouver Film School, all kinds of film/TV, theatre, bartending and much
more!
Wilding uses the pronouns they/them. It can feel a bit strange at first to talk about one person in the plural – other languages have found better options to express gender neutrality!
Wilding is starting their training with Ivan this week, and we look forward to meeting them on Sunday!
Wondering why Wilding uses they/them pronouns? Please check out this helpful
link: https://www.mypronouns.org/they-them
Lead by Wendy Maclean. A wonderful opportunity to be part of a small community of writers. CenterQuest, the sponsor, is a school of spiritual direction. It is an international group, and in the past we have had folks from Singapore, Philippines, Canada, USA, Malaysia and Spain. It involves a live session on Monday evenings, then daily prompts and an interactive forum. For anyone who is interested in writing poetry, especially if it is a new experience. Wendy Jean Maclean
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/The-Lent-Poetry-Studio-is-Back-.html?soid=1114329429132&aid=_JsH3MgoJR8
The next cookie delivery to our “at home” folks will be on Monday Feb 16. Cookies will be gladly accepted at church on Feb 15 (see Mary Davis Little or Linda Steinberg) or at 9:30 Monday morning at the Earl St door.
If you know anyone who would appreciate a little extra love (cookies) at this time, please let Mary or Linda know and we can add them to the list.
Final chance to get that last minute forgotten gift! You may find it with the other books by MacCallum Hall. A real bargain at $1.00 each. Try your luck!
Merry Christmas!
All the best to you and your families in this Advent Season!
This week the Connections Circle covered a number of topics. Our most important conversation was with the report from the Transition Circle after the Discernment Retreat Session on Nov 29. There is a lot of follow-up required in order to inform us all on our potential futures. Please carefully read the attached report from the Circle. And please consider what roles you can play in helping the team get the answers we need. It could be as an expert opinion for specific issues or it could be part of team investigating all the
options. The next Transition Circle meeting is January 6 – please consider joining to find out what is needed.
Other topics covered a discussion on developing the 2026 budget. We are trying to identify items that are certain and also to identify the different possibilities for the next year. Each circle will have to think about the possible directions. Also, the Operations Circle will be putting forward (through the Property Committee) a proposal to the congregation about decommissioning our current ancient (by current standards) sprinkler system in our church. Stay tuned for more details and a congregational meeting tentatively
planned for January 25. Lastly the circle approved a raise in salary for our long serving Office Administrator Carol Sleeth. She has been working faithfully for us for since 2008 and deserves recognition for all the work she does and the benefits she has provided this
congregation.
Please stay tuned to all the Circle notes for exciting things that are coming in the New Year.
** For a more detailed summary see the 2 page attachment. There is also an 11 page document that contains even more details about the Discernment Retreat. If you would like a copy of this, please email the office or Elizabeth and we can send you it. We will also have a few printed copies available on Sunday. **
At our November 29 gathering, the congregation gathered to discern next steps for Chalmers’ future. After thoughtful dialogue using Restorative Practice principles, participants considered various options including disbanding, expanding rentals, forming partnerships, and other possibilities.
The group reached consensus to move forward by exploring two key directions:
• Expanding our rental activities to increase revenue
• Developing partnerships, including potential collaboration with The Spire and conversations with other United Churches.
The United Property Resource Corporation is available to help us explore these possibilities. The Transition Circle will investigate these options further, consulting with experts on charitable tax implications and rental opportunities. They will report back to the congregation by Easter with their findings. Connections will be looking at expanding the Transition Circle as we explore the possibilities.
All present affirmed their support for this exploratory approach, trusting in the Spirit’s guidance as we discern the faithful path forward for our community.